'Homeland' recap: Season 3 ends in tragedy, redemption

The saga of Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) comes to an end on the Season 3 finale of "Homeland."

The saga of Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) comes to an end on the Season 3 finale of "Homeland." (Didier Baverel / Showtime)

Alan Eyerly

With the execution of Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) in Iran, Showtime’s “Homeland” concludes a three-year story arc and propels CIA case officer Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) in a new direction for upcoming Season 4.

Early on in the Season 3 finale (“The Star”) it appears Brody will escape after assassinating Gen. Danesh Akbari (Houshang Touzie), Iran’s war-mongering intelligence chief. Brody reunites with Carrie and hides in a safe house while awaiting rescue by Navy SEALs.

But for CIA-controlled Majid Javadi (Shaun Toub) to succeed Akbari as Iran’s top spymaster, Brody must be swiftly apprehended and punished.

“The longer he eludes us, the weaker I look,” Javadi emphasizes to Saul.

Saul declines to reveal Brody’s location, but Lockhart intervenes. He contacts the president and aborts the rescue mission.

When Brody and Carrie hear the sound of helicopters, they step outside the safe house. But the helicopter noise is only a recording. Instead of being flown to safety, Brody is captured by Iranian soldiers.

“Don’t you dare do anything to harm him,” Carrie exhorts Javadi. But no one can save Brody at this point. He’s found guilty by a military tribunal and sentenced to hang before dawn.

When Brody’s final moments come, he refuses to don a black hood before the hangman’s noose is cinched around his neck. And he doesn’t struggle as a crane lifts him high off the ground.

Despite Brody’s admonition to stay away, Carrie joins the jeering crowd gathered for the execution. She tearfully calls out to Brody before a guard knocks her down.

Brody’s story is over, but Carrie begins a new chapter four months later. She’s promoted to Istanbul station chief by CIA Director Lockhart, making her the youngest person to hold the prestigious post. In her new position she’ll work closely with Javadi to improve Iran’s relations with the West.

Carrie is also pregnant with Brody’s baby. And she’s sad and scared, deeply worried that bipolar disorder will render her an unfit mother.